BBD 06.23.05 An Appointed time
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
a part of a great ministry. More than 400 wonderful people make up this
group. To join send an email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org
The Burning Bush Devotional
1,220 New Subscribers since November 2004
06.23.05
An Appointed Time
(Originally sent 01.08.03)
Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My
time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples" - Matthew 26:18.
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.A
time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck
what is planted. - Ecclesiastes 3:1; 2.
Lake Superior State University of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has issued its
26th annual extreme list of words "banished from the Queen's English for
mis-use, over-use and general uselessness, which the world needs 'now, more
than ever.'" They received a record 3,000 nominations for the list this year
with most of the nominations being received through their Website
http://www.lssu.edu/banished. Nominations were and are accepted apparently from
everyone who takes the time to nominate. This year's list contains 23 words
and phrases such as "must-see TV," "got game," "mental mistake," "frozen
tundra," and "an undisclosed, secret location." Last but not least according
to the list was the phrase, "untimely death," sometimes used by obituary
writers and others. The phrase according to some would indicate that some
deaths are more tragic than others. Donald Burgess of California asks, "Has
anyone yet died a timely death?"
The answer to the question asked by Donald Burgess is, "Yes!" Some have
indeed died timely deaths. At the top of the list is our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Jesus began His physical life on this earth at the proper
time, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His
Son.(Galatians 4:4)." He also died at the proper time, "My time is at hand
(Matthew 26:18)." There is a "time" to be born and a "time" to die according
to Ecclesiastes 3.
If there is a "time" to die then it is reasonable to assume that there is a
wrong "time" to die. The Bible also addresses this in Ecclesiastes 7:17 and
says, "Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: why should you die before
your time?" It is possible to die ahead of schedule before your appointed
days (Hebrews 9:27) upon this earth have been completed. The word
"appointed" in Hebrews 9:27 comes from the Greek word "apokeitai" meaning
"reserved, awaiting, laid up." It has been appointed a proper time for us to
die and for Christ, which is mentioned in the next verse, "so Christ was
offered once to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28)." Since there is an
improper time to die how could that happen? Man has a free will. We can
choose to commit suicide. We can choose to do unwise things such as mountain
climbing without the proper skills, driving too fast, using illegal drugs,
and we know we can be unwise in a vast number of other ways which could lead
to death. That is why we are warned in Ecclesiastes not to be foolish.
We can die in peace when we die in the Lord at the proper time. Simeon is an
example of this. Simeon was "just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of
Israel (Luke 2:25)." "And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke
2:26)." When Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus into the temple, Simeon
"took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now You are
letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes
have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:28-30)."
Let us live not as "foolish" but justly and devoutly so that we too may
"depart in peace" at our "appointed" time.
Copyright © 2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
The Crossmap Christian Search and Portal is a wonderful resource. I would
like to encourage you to visit this great site at http://www.crossmap.com. Crossmap
has recently added the Burning Bush Devotionals to their site. You may visit
Crossmap's sister website, the online version of the Christian Post at
http://www.christianpost.com.
If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page http://www.theburningbush.org.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org
Streaming Videos of our services including my sermons are posted at:
http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 400 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm